Foot flange bending mechanism



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Oct. 2, 1956 J. A. SCARLETT 2,765,020

FOOT FLANGE BENDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 16, 1953 l1 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

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United ttes PatentO FOOT FLANGE BENDING MECHANISM John A. Scarlett, Evansville, Ind., assignor, by mesne asslgnments, to Whirlpool-Seeger Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application February 16, 1953, Serial No. 337,020 7 Claims. (Cl. 153-4) The present invention relates to bending machines, and is particularly concerned with tangent benders for bending the outer shell of a household refrigerator, in which the shell is bent to substantially U-shape with side portions or legs extending downwardly from the upper bends, of a definite and predetermined length.

The present application is a continuation in part of my prior application, Serial No. 125,541, filed November 4, 1949, now abandoned, for Bending Machines and Methods of Bending Sheet Metal, and is to be substituted for said prior application.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved method of bending sheet metal for the purpose of making a housing such as the outer shellof a household refrigerator, in which manual labor is reduced to a minimum, and a single sheet of metal is so bent that both of its side walls are equal in length, and attaching flanges are provided which are also equal in length, and bent at right angles to the side walls of the housing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved tangent bender which includes mechanism for forming the right-angle attaching flanges at the bottom ends of the side walls of a household refrigerator shell, while the bent shell is still confined in the tangent bender.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved tangent bender in which the mechanism for bending the shell and bending the foot flanges at the lower ends of the two legs of the refrigerator shell is mounted upon a plurality of carriages in such manner that the crown of the housing or shell may be bent first; and while the sheet metal is still held in its original position relative to the tangent bender, the mechanism for bending the foot flanges may be brought into proper position and actuated to form equal footflanges on the bottom of each of the side walls of the shell.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are eleven sheets accompanying the specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tangent bending mechanism embodying the invention, with the base partially broken away at the lower left corner;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view taken from the left end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism for bending the foot flanges;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the bending mechanism for bending the foot flanges;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 3, showing the mechanism for bending the foot flanges from the right side of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 77 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the cross section of the preformed blank and of the shell at the female die;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the plane of the line 88 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the lower corner of one of the shells formed by the machine, showing the foot flange and the other flanges cut away adjacent the foot flange;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the bending mechanism for forming the top of the shell;

Fig. 12 isa fragmentary end elevational view taken on the plane of the line 1212 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bending mechanism in the position which the parts assume when the shell has been bent to U-shape;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the hydraulic arrangements for rotating the male die from the shell forming position to the shell discharging position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, 20 indicates in its entirety the improved tangent bender embodying the invention. It is provided with a suitable base 21, which fixedly supports the base 22 for the tangent bender mechanism 23 at the right end of Fig. 1.

The base 21 supports a carriage 24, which is slidably mounted for movement longitudinally of the basezl, and which carries the male form mechanism 25 and the foot flange forming mechanism 26.

The male form mechanism 25 isfixedly mounted on the carriage 24, but may be moved longitudinally of the base 21 to bring the male form mechanism 25 with a suitable blank into engagement with the tangent bender mechanism 23 to form the U-shaped top of the shell.

Thereafter the carriage 24 may be moved to the left in Fig. 1 to remove the male form mechanism 25, with the formed shell from the tangent bender mechanism 23 reaching the position shown in Fig. 1. V The foot flange forming mechanism 26 is carried by a separate carriage 2'7 slidably mounted on the carriage 24, so that it may be moved away from the male form mechanism 25, or it may be brought into the position of Fig. 1 to form the foot flanges on the shell while the shell is still mounted on the male form mechanism 25.

Referring to Fig. 2, the base 21 is there shown as comprising suitable longitudinally extending frame members 28, joined by horizontal frame members 29 and carrying suitable columns 30, with upper horizontal frame members 31 for fixedly supporting the horizontal guide members 3232, upon which the intermediate carriage 24 is slidably mounted.

Intermediate carriage 24 has suitable track surfaces 33 engaging the tops of the horizontal guides 32, and the tracks 33 are recessed in the framemembers 34 to provide lateral shoulders 35, guiding the carriage 24 upon the tracks 33.

Carriage 24 also has suitable retaining flanges 36-36 engaging below the guides 32 for retaining the carriage 24 upon its guides 32. Carriage 24 is provided with a suitable framework 37, forming a bed for the carriage 27, which supports the foot flange forming mechanism 26 and forming a rigid support for the male forming mechanism 25. v

Carriage 27 is provided with lower track surfaces 38,

FigP'Z, recessed 'in its lower frame members 39, for slidably receiving the guides-4040- whichare 'located on the carriage 24.

Carriage 27 is secured against removal from its guides 40'bythe retaining"flanges-4141, which-engage under portions of the guides 40.

*The carriage 27 supports a suitable framework including a column 42, at the left end of Fig. l,-havinga pair of laterally projecting brackets 43 fixedly supported thereon for pivotal support by means of pins or bolts 44, ofthe hydraulic cylinders 45, which actuate the foot flange bending mechanism further to be described.

Hydraulic cylinders 45 may have a pair of pivot'flanges 46; Witlr a'through bore registering'with apertures in'the bracket flanges-47,-for receiving-the pin or bolt 44.

Referring again to Fig. l, the hydraulic cylinder motor 48 is pivotally carried bytherbase' 21 at its right end by means of a'flxed bracket 50, having a pivot flange 51.

Cylinder 48 has a-pair of pivot flanges 52 fitting over the pivot flange 51, and provided'with registering apertures for passing the pivot bolt 53, by means of which the hydraulic cylinder 48 is secured at its right end to the base 21.

At its left end, Fig; 1,-the piston rod 49 is pivotally secured by means of a pivot fitting 54 to a fixed bracket 55, by means of a pivot pin 56, and the fixed bracket 55 extends upwardly and is fixedly secured to the carriage 24, so that hydraulic cylinder 48, with its piston and piston rod is adapted to move the carriage 24 toward the left and toward the right in Fig. l.

The carriage 27, Fig. 3, is secured to the left end of pistonrod 60, which carries a piston in hydraulic cylinder 59 and is used to move the carriage 27 on carriage 24. Cylinder 59 is secured to carriage 24 so that the cylinder 59 reacts on carriage 24 to move the carriage 27. Carriage 27 carries the foot flange bending mechanism 26.

.Referring to Fig. 3, this is a plan view of the foot flange forming mechanism shown in connection with the male form mechanism. The male form mechanism 25 comprises a suitable horizontal frame member 63, which is pivotally-mounted on the carriage 24 by means of a column 64. Column 64 is fixedly. secured at its lowerend 65 on the carriage 24, and it is provided with suitable bearings 66 for rotatably supporting the male form frame member-63.

-Male form frame member 63 is provided with a cylinder motor 68.. .The piston rod 67 carries a piston in hydraulic Cylinder-68,.and'alsocarries arack 63b meshing with a mutilated gear 63a on column 64, which in turn is carried by carriage 24.

.Hydraulic cylinder 68 is adapted to rotate the male form frame member 63, 90 degrees from the position of Fig. 3, counterclockwise so that the shell may beremoved endwisefrom said form member, after .the shell has been finished.

The-male. form mechanism includes a forming member 69, Fig. 3, having a shape in plan similar to the shape of the shell to be formed, with an upper plane or slightly crowned surface 70, easy right-angle bends at 71 and 72, and inwardly extending plane surfaces at 73 and 74, so that-the shell may be bent beyond a right angle in order to make allowances for spring-back.

- .75 indicates the formed refrigerator. shell on the male form 69.

.wReferrin'g to Fig. 7, .this shows a vertical section of the maleform 69, with the shell 75 upon it, and it shows the sectional shape of the blank for the shell, which is preformed, before being placed in the present bending machine, to the shape shown in Fig. 7.

Thus the refrigerator shell -75 consists of a piece of sheet steel which is straight from front to back at its main body 76, but curved laterally in substantially U-shape. At its rear edge the shell 75 has an inwardly extending flange 77 used for securingthe back plate on the refrigerator shell, and the. rear flange 77 extends up and -iscut -away adjacent-the foot-flanges after the manner shown in Fig. 10, which, however, shows the front flanges.

In order to provide space for the preformed rear flange 77, the male form 69 is smaller in a vertical direction than the spacing between the forming shoes 78 and 79 on the tangent bender mechanism, there being a crack at 80, above the male form 69; and below the upper, shoe 78 for accommodating the'preformed rear shell'flange-77.

The blank" which is to beformed into a shell is,al so preformed at its frontedge, which is the lower endofF-ig. 7, where the blank is bentat right angles at; 81,.forming a front face flange 82 for engagement with the door seal.

The blankis bent backwardly upon itself at 83, forming an inner flange 84 which liesagainst the back of the face flange 82. At 85 the blank is bent at right angles, providing a reinforcing flange 86, which lies against the inside of the body 76 of the shell.

At 87 the blank is bent inwardly at right angles, providing awider inwardly extending flange 83, which is a backing for the breaker strip of the refrigerator shell, as the breakerstriptis mounted between the flanges 88 and 84.

As previously stated, the blank for forming the shell 75 has been preformed with these front and rear flanges before being place in the tangent bender, and the male form 69--has an inwardly extending slot 89 for accommodating the flange 88.

The male form 69 is also spaced at its lower face 90 from thelowershoe -79 sufliciently to accommodate the double flanges 82; 84 which are formed for the front of the shell. The flange formations 82,84, 88 extend from end toend of the 'blank and from the bottom of the two legs-of the u shaped shell upwardly across the top and down the-other leg, except that the flanges are cut away, as shown in' Eig. '10, to provide for the formation of the foot flanges-91 upon the shell 75, in-connection with the same flange formation described in respect to Fig. 7.

Thusthe flange 82 has been cut back at the bottom of the shell to thepoint 92, and the flanges 82, 84, 88 have been cutback still farther to the point 93 and the metal provided for forming foot flange 91 has been cut back to a bevel 94 at each corner of the lower edge of the U-shaped shell.

' The formationof the male die69' at its top and bottom to fit the preformed blank for the shell 75 permits the operators of themachine toplace the blank of sheet metal in a straightcondition on the right end, Fig. 1-, of the male form 69, where it is supported as the carriage 24 moves to the rightuntil the male form presses the blank for the shell75 against the-tangent bender shoes 78, 79, as shown in 'Fig. 7.

' The'tangent-bender mechanism 23 is shown in end elevation in Fig; l2-and top plan in Fig. 11. The tangent bending mechanism 23, Fig. 12, is fixedly mounted-on the base .22, which has a suitable column 95 for supporting the right ends of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 96, 97, bothof which are pivotally mounted by means of pins 9-8, 93, on the column 95, at the right end of Fig. l.

Hydraulic cylinders 96,97 are provided with suitable pistons and piston=rods=99, theends of the piston rods beingpivotally securedby pins on a pair of pivotallymounted wings 101-1t)1,-one for each side of the tangent bending mechanism.

The wings 101 are pivotally. mounted on the shafts 102, Fig. 11, which are carried by the upper and lowermutilatedgeais1fi3, each of which is fixedly mounted on the fixed arms 104 mounted on the base 22. There are four such mutilated gears103, there being one above and one below for-each of the wings 101, and the gears 103 are fixed.

The Wings ltll have pivot flange extensions 105, Fig. 1, extending to the shafts 102, where they are provided I with bearings on the shafts 102. The gears 103 have their pitch circles corresponding 'to the radius of bend at each of the top corners of the shell, and in the event a smaller or larger radius bend is desired, smaller or large gears 103 are employed.

The pivot flanges 105 of the wings 101 have slots 106 for receiving the end trunnions 107 of a roller 108, one of which is provided for each side of the machine, and the roller 108 rolls against the back of the bending die 109, transmitting a suitable pressure to it.

Roller trunnion 107 at each end carries a smaller gear 110, having teeth which mesh with the teeth 111 onone side of a double rack 112. Such a double rack 112 is carried by the upper and lower edges of each bending die. The opposite side 113 of each double rack carries teeth which mesh with the teeth on gear 103 in each case.

The pitch diameter of gears 110 is such as to provide suitable speed of rotation for the roller 108 as it progresses outwardly on the double rack 112, while the bending die 109 rotates about the center of gears 103, forming the easy bends in the top of the shell.

Trunnions 107 of the roller 108 rotate in bearings 114 which are slidably mounted on the wings 101 in slots 106. Wings 101 carry fixed brackets 115, provided with an aperture for an adjustment screw 116 which engages a spring seat 116:; for a helical spring 117 in engagement with the bearings 114.

Springs 117 are located above and below each wing 101, and they act on sliding bearings 114 which are mounted on the roller trunnions 107, so that the springs 117 urge the rollers against the bending dies 109 and also urge the gears 110 and 103 into engagement with the double racks 112.

Each wing also carries a fixed bracket 119 on its outer face, pivotally mounting at 120 a sliding shoe 121 which engages the back of each bending die at a point farther out than the rollers 108, thus giving the wings 101 a greater leverage on the bending dies 109.

The details of construction of the tangent bender mechanism 23 are not included in the present invention, and the present invention consists in the combination of the foot flange bending mechanism with the male die mechanism and tangent bender mechanism, of which the foregoing is an example.

The operation of the tangent bender mechanism 23 is as follows:

The flat sheet steel blank of which the shell 75 is to be formed, having been preformed with the flanges 77, and 32-88, shown in Fig. 7, with the mechanism in the position of Fig. 1, the straight sheet metal blank is pressed against the male die 69, with its flanges in the position of Fig. 7, the blank extending at right angles to the plane of paper in Fig. 1.

The hydraulic cylinder 59 has been previously actuated to Withdraw the foot flange forming mechanism 26 away from the male die mechanism 25, so as not to interfere with the bending of the U-shaped shell.

The hydraulic cylinder 48 is then energized with a hydraulic fluid to move its piston and piston rod 49 to the right in Fig. 1, moving the carriage 24 to the right until the male die 69 presses the blank into the bending die shoes 78 and 79.

These shoes comprise hardened metal right-angle inserts carried by the bending die and arranged flush with its engaging surface 122. The bending die is now engaging the right side of the blank which is to form the shell 75, and the hydraulic cylinders 96 are now energized with hydraulic fluid so that the piston rods 99 cause the wings 101 to rotate on the shafts 102 outwardly on each side of the machine in the direction in which the blank is to be bent.

As the wings 101 both rotate outwardly in their respective directions from their Fig. 11 to Fig. 13 positions, they carry the roller trunnions 107 with them revolving in an orbit about the axis of shafts 102, and the trunnions 107 carry the rollers 108, and the gears 110 urge the double rack 112 constantly against the mutilated gears the axis of the shafts 102, which correspond to the angle of the easy bend desired in its radius. I

The racks 112 progress forwardly around the outside of the gears 103, and the rollers 108, and sliding shoes 121 press the bending die constantly against the outside of the metal being bent until the sides 123, 124 of the shell have been pressed beyond the right-angle position into engagement with the inwardly beveled portions 73, 74 of the male die or punch 69.

The sides 123, 124 tend to spring back to the right angle position when they are released. While the shell 75 is held in this position by the tangent bender mechanism, the foot flange bending mechanism 26 is caused to advance from a detached position toward the right on the carriage 24 by means of the hydraulic cylinder 59, which draws the carriage 27 to the right to the position of Fig. 1.

The foot flange bending mechanism is mounted on the carriage 27, and this carriage 27 supports at its right end a rectangular frame 125, Fig. 4, Fig. 5. The rectangular frame 125 comprises an upper frame member 126, a lower frame member 127, and a pair of lateral vertical frame members 128, 129.

The vertical frame members 128, 129 are rabbeted into recesses 130 in the upper and lower frame members 127, where they are secured by screw bolts 131 passing through the upper and lower frame members and threaded into the vertical frame members.

The upper and lower frame members 126 and 127 carry guide members 132 and 133, and these guide members being provided with guide grooves 134, facing toward each other for slidably supporting the laterally movable clamping members 135, by means of which the sides 123, 124 of the shell are to be held while the foot flanges are formed.

The clamping members 135 are shown in retracted position in Fig. 5, after the foot flanges have been formed,

and each clamping member 135 is provided at its top and bottom with guide flanges 136 extending into the grooves 134, above and below, for slidably mounting the clamping members 135 in the frame 125.

The guide flanges 136 are cut away at 137 to provide space for the hydraulic cylinder 138, provided with piston 139 and piston rod 140. The cylinder 138 has a pair of pivot flanges 141 extending on opposite sides of the guide flanges 136 and pivotally mounted by means of a bolt 142 at the right end (Fig. 5).

The piston rod is mounted in a two-flanged shackle 143, which embraces the opposite sides of the guide flanges 136, where the shackle is pivotally mounted by means of a bolt 144. Thus the hydraulic cylinder and piston, 138, 139 is permitted to be self-aligning with respect to the clamping members 135, which are adapted to be urged apart by the cylinder and piston or retracted by the cylinder and piston.

The guide flanges 136 are spaced from each other by a spacing 145 by stop lugs 146 arranged in the grooves 134, above and below, so that the parts are retracted to the position of Fig. 5 beyond which neither of the guide flanges 136 may move.

When the hydraulic cylinder and piston 138, 139 are energized with hydraulic fluid the clamping member 135,

which has the least friction is withdrawn first until it engages the stop 146, after which the other clamping member 135 is retracted.

The clamping members 135 are thus adapted to clamp the side portions 123, 124 of the refrigerator housing shell 75 against the lateral frame members 128, 129 for holding the shell in fixed position during the formation of the foot flanges 91.

Each of the lateral frame members 128, 129 is provided with a pivoted latch member 147, pivoted on a bolt or rivet 148, and having a hook shaped end portion 7 witha shoulder 149 that hooks overthe flange 77 of; eachofthesides 123, 124 of the shell 75.

The shell tends to spring back to this position aft lf it is bent about themale form 69,. but the latch members 147 engage thesides of the shell and hold it inthe posi:

tionof Fig. 5, when the clamping members 135 are retracted so that the foot flange 91 will not interfere with the removal of the foot flange bending mechanism to theleft in Fig. 1, after the foot flanges have been formed.

The shell 75, with its side walls 123, 124, slides end- Wise out of the frame 125 and outof the latches 147 whenv the shell is removed from the male form 69. The frame 125 is provided at its four eorners with stub shafts 151, Fig. 5,, for rotatably receiving the bearings 150 of the foot flange bending mechanism.

Referring, to Fig. 9, the axis of the bearings 150 is located substantially at the acute corner 152 of the anvil 153 aboutwhich the foot flange is bent. Each clamping. member 135 ofthefoot flange bending mechanism, Fig. 9, is provided with an anvil 153, comprising a hardened steel bar which is rectangular on three sides 154,. 155, 156, but its fourth side 1557 is beveled backward toward clamping members 135 so that the foot flange 91 may be bent more than a right angle, as it will spring back to the right-angle position of Fig. l0 when it is released.

Each anvil 153 is secured to the clamping members 135, with its outer side flush with the outer surface 153 Qfthe clamping members135,

Thefrarne 1.25 hasits vertical frames 128, 129 of suflicient widthto extend to the axis 152 of the stub shafts 151, and abending die 159 is mounted on the stub shafts 151 and extends from top to bottom of the frame 125. Qneach side, being pivotally mounted on the stub shafts 151 by means of bearings 150.

Foot flange bending die 159- comprises a hardened steel bar. which may be of the same thickness as the frame members 128, 129, andmayhavc its inner surface 160 flush with the inner surface 161 of the frame 129 so that both the frame 129 and the bending die 159 are located to engage the outside of the sides of the shell 75.

The upper and lower frame members 126, 127 of the frame 125 are provided with extensions 162 on the side toward the bending die 159 for supp rting the stub shafts 151. The bending die is provided at its upper end and at its lower end with, slots 163 for accommodating the. extensions 162 and the upper and, lower bearings 150 are secured; to the endsof the bending die.

Bending die 159 is provided with a pivot bracket 1'64 on its rear edge secured in place by means of screw bolts 1 6 and provided with a pivot flange 1.66. The pivot flange is pivotally secured to a shackle 167,'by means of a pin 168 and the shackle 167 carries a pistonrod 16.9.

Piston rod 169 on each side of the foot-flange bending mechanism is provided with a piston (not shown) slidably mounted in a hydraulic cylinder 45, as previously described, with respect to Figs. 1 and 2. The other ends of. the. hydraulic cylinders are pivotally mounted on the brackets 26, Fig. 2.

The axis of the pivot pin 168 on the bending die..159 islocated inwardly of the line of axes of the stub shafts 151 and the pin 44 which supports the other endfof the hydraulic cylinder 45. Thus' when the hydraulic cylinder 45 is energized with hydraulic fluid the bending dies 159 are pivoted inward in the direction of the arrows,

as shown in Fig. 3, to the dotted line position shownin' Fig. 9, bending the foot flanges 91' to the-idotfed line position shown in Fig. 9.

The foot flanges then spring back to the right-angle position shown in. Fig. so thatthe'. shell 75:may'bereleased from being clamped by the anvil 1 5-3 and-clamping members 135 by causing the hydraulic cylinder 13810 retract its piston. rod 140, thus. retracting the. elamping rnembewfii rom-t rc it qnof F 41911 2 f Fi -5- The operation ,of the machine in forming refrigerator housing shells isasfollows: a I

Assume that the carriage 27 has been retracted to the left, in Fig. 1, away from the male die-mechanism by moving the carriage 27 on the carriage 24. 1

Assume the carriage 24 is in the position of Fig. 1, retracted from the tangent bending mechanism 23, as shown in Fig. 1. has the flanges as shown in Fig. 7 is placed on the male form 69, with the blank extending at right angles to the paper in Fig. l, and supported by the upper flange'77 on top the male die 69 and by the flange 88 in the groove 89, and also retained by the flanges 82 and 84 below the male die 69.

A slot in the upper flange 77, engaged about a complementary lug on male die 69, determines the middle position of the preformed blank on the male-die 69.-

By means of this lug and slot the blank is so located that the male die 69 is midway between its ends. -The- 1 hydraulic cylinder 48 is then'energized to 'causethe inthe blank to the shape of the shell 75, as shown in Fig. 3.

This moves the side walls 123, 124 to a position engaging the beveled edges '73, 74 of the male dies 69, and thereupon the hydraulic cylinder 59 is energized to move the foot flange bending mechanism 26-10 the position shown in Fig. l.

As the frame 125, Fig. 5, moves over outside the side walls 123, 124 of the shell 75, the'clamping members 135 have been retracted, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the ends of the shell move into the spaces 170'between the clamping members 135, and the side frame members 128,-

The tangent bending cylinders 96 are then caused to release the side Walls 123, 124, which spring back to the parallel position of Fig. 3, and to the position of Fig.5," against the inside of the frame members 128, 129. Thereupon the hydraulic cylinder 138, Fig. 5, is energized to cause the clamping members 135 to spread from the position of Fig. 5,- to that of Fig. 4, clamping-the sides of the shell 75 firmly against the inside of the frame and againstthe foot flange bending die 159.

The latches 147 then drop into place, as shown in Fig; 5, and whilev the hydraulic cylinder 138' is clamping the side walls 123, 124 of the shell 75 inthe position of Fig. 4, the hydraulic cylinders 45'on the foot flange bending mechanism are energized to cause-the foot flange bending die 159 to move from the full line positionof Fig. 9 to the dotted line position, thus bendingthe'foot flanges 91. I

While this foot flange bending is going on the hydraulic cylinder 48' may "beretracting the entire carriage 24 away from the tangent bending mechanism 23 to the position of Fig. l, preparatory to the removal of the finished shell; Y

The. hydraulic cylinders 45 are then caused to withdraw'their-piston rods 169, moving. the foot flange bending die-1'59 ba'ck tothe' full line position of Fig. 9, and the foot 'flanges 91 spring-back-toa substantially rightangle'position, as'shown in Fig. 10. r

The'hydrauliccylinder 138 is then caused to withdraw the two clamping members and the two anvils 153 from engagement with the inside of the-two sides-of the shell 75;fron1-the-position'ofFig. 4 to the position'of e: 1atches147' loosely hold the sides 123, 124 of the shell "75,: spread in, theposition of Fig.5,- so that the foot flanges 91will not catch onthe clamping members 1350; anvils* 15 3.

A preformed sheet metal blank which already The hydraulic cylinder 59 is energized to Withdraw the carriage 27 toward the left in Fig. 3 from the position of Fig. 1, so that the frame 125 is moved olf the end of the finished shell 75.

The male die mechanism 69 is then caused to rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise, as viewed from the top of Fig. 1, causing the male die 69 to point toward the left of the machine in Fig. 1, and the finished shell is pulled ofi toward the left from the male die 69.

The hydraulic cylinder 68 is then again energized to withdraw its piston rod 67 and rotate the male die 69, 90 degrees back to the position of Fig. 1, Where it is ready to receive another blank.

One of the most important features of this operation is the retaining of the partially formed shell 75 on the male die 69 in its original position while the foot flanges 91 are being formed, as this assures foot flanges of equal width, whereas it is found that if the partially formed shell must be removed from the male die and placed in another mechanism to form the foot flanges, it is difficult to get the partially formed shell 75 in such position that the foot flanges will be formed of equal width.

This operation is brought about by having the foot flange bending mechanism 26 mounted on a carriage 27 which moves on the intermediate carriage 24, which carries the male die mechanism 25.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved tangent bending mechanism for forming the outer shells of household refrigerators, by means of which such shells may be formed very economically and quickly and all shells Will be of the same dimensions in all of their parts.

The present machine involves a minimum amount of manual labor and may be used for forming shells of different size by interchangeable parts especially adapted for the shells of different sizes.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a bending machine for forming housing members for household refrigerators or the like, the combination of a supporting base provided with a plurality of guides, a tangent bending mechanism carried by said base and facing toward said guides, a carriage movably mounted on said guides and a male form carried by said carriage to be moved toward and away from said tangent bending mechanism, said carriage being provided with addi-.

tional guides extending in substantially the same direction as the first-mentioned guides, a second carriage movably mounted on said latter guides, said second carriage supporting a foot flange bending mechanism, hydraulic means for actuating said tangent bending mechanism to form a sheet metal member into substantially U-shape, and hydraulic means for actuating said foot flange bending mechanism mounted upon said second carriage and acting on the legs of said U-shaped member while mounted on said male form to bend an inwardly extending foot flange on each of the legs of said U-shaped member.

2. In a bending machine for forming housing members for household refrigerators or the like, the combination of a support with a male form about which a piece of sheet metal may be bent to substantially U-shape to form the top and two sides of a refrigerator housing, said support being provided with guides, a carriage mounted on said guides, a foot flange bending mechanism mounted upon said carriage and movable into position to engage and bend the sides of said housing member to form inwardly extending foot flanges of substantially equal width, said foot flange bending mechanism including a substan- 10 tially rectangular frame having side frame members located to engage outside the sides of said U-shaped housing adjacent the free ends thereof, and a pair of clamping members slidably mounted in said frame and adapted to engage the inside of the sides of said U-shaped housing to clamp said sides in said frame for support during the bending of foot flanges.

3. In a bending machine for forming housing members for household refrigerators or the like, the combination of a support with a male form about which a piece of sheet metal may be bent to substantially U-shape to form the top and two sides of a refrigerator housing, said support being provided with guides, a carriage mounted on said guides, a foot flange bending mechanism mounted upon said carriage and movable into position to engage and bend the sides of said housing member to form inwardly extending foot flanges of substantially equal width, said foot flange bending mechanism including a substantially rectangular frame having side frame members located to engage outside the sides of said U-shaped housing adjacent the free ends thereof, a pair of clamping members slidably mounted in said frame and adapted to engage the inside of the sides of said U-shaped housing to clamp said sides in said frame for support during the bending of foot flanges, and hydraulic means acting and reacting on said clamping members for spreading the clamping members in opposite directions and for withdrawing the clamping members, said frame including stop means between said clamping members for engaging one clamping member and limiting its further withdrawal while said hydraulic means continues to act to withdraw the other clamping member.

4. A foot flange bending mechanism for simultaneously forming two inwardly extending foot flanges upon a substantially U-shaped refrigerator housing member comprising, a support, a substantially rectangular frame carried by said support and adapted to receive the parallel ends of said U-shaped member upon which the foot flanges are to be formed, the said frame having a pair of horizontal upper and lower frame members joined by a pair of vertical side frame members, the said side frame members engaging the outside of said U-shaped member, guides carried on the inside of said upper and lower frame members for slidably mounting a pair of clamping members, a pair of clamping members slidably mounted in said guides, each clamping member having an elongated, straight clamping surface for engaging inside said U-shaped member and having guide flanges extending into said guides in said frame and slidably mounted therein, an hydraulic cylinder and piston provided with a piston rod, said piston rod being secured to one clamping member and said cylinder secured to the opposite clamping member, the said cylinder and piston expanding to drive said clamping members into engagement with the inside of said U-shaped member, a stop member carried by said frame in one of said guides and adapted to be engaged by a stop surface on one of the guides of each clamping member for limiting the movement of said clamping members when withdrawn by said cylinder and piston, one of said clamping members engaging said stop member first, and thereafter assuring the withdrawal of the other of said clamping members by said hydraulic cylinder and piston, and means carried by said frame for bending the end portions of said U-shaped member inward while clamped in said frame.

5. A foot flange bendingmechanism for simultaneously forming two inwardly extending foot flanges upon a substantially U-shaped refrigerator housing member comprising, a support, a substantially rectangular frame carried by said support and adapted to receive the parallel ends of said U-shaped member upon which the foot flanges are to be formed, the said frame having a pair of horizontal upper and lower frame members joined by a pair of vertical side frame members, the said side frame members engaging the outside of said U-shaped member, guides carried on the inside of said. upper and lower frame members for slidably mounting a pair of clamping members,

a pair of clamping members slidably mounted insalid guides, each clamping member having an elongated,-

straight clamping surface for engaging inside said U- shaped member and having guide flanges extending into said guides in said frame and slidably mounted therein, an hydraulic cylinder and piston provided with a piston rod, said piston rod being secured to oneyclamping mem-v ber and said cylinder-secured to the opposite clamping.

member, the said cylinder and piston expanding to drive said clamping members into engagement with the inside of said U-shaped member, a stopmember carried by said frame in one of said guides and adapted to be engaged by a stop surface on one ofthe guides of each clamping the end portions of said U-shaped member inward .while clamped in said frame, said frame being provided with a pair of spring pressed latching members for engagement over end portions of said U-shaped memben'and holding the U-shaped member apart into engagement with said frame while the clamping members are retracted so that the U-shaped member and frame may be separated in a direction longitudinally of said U-shaped member without the formed foot flanges catching on the clamping members.

6. A foot flange bending mechanism for simultaneously forming two inwardly extendingfoot flanges-upon a substantially U-shaped refrigerator housing member comprising, a support, a substantially rectangular frame carried by said support and adapted to receive the parallel ends of said U-shaped member upon which the foot flanges are to be formed, the said frame having a pair of horizontal upper and lower frame members joined by a pair of vertical side frame members, the said side frame members engaging the outside of said U-shaped member, guides carried on the inside of said upper and lower frame members for slidably mounting a pair of clamping members, a pair of clamping members slidably mounted in said guides, each clamping member having an elongated, straight clamping surface forengaging inside said U- shaped member and having guide flanges extending into said guides in said frame and slidably mounted therein, an hydraulic cylinder 'and piston provided with a piston rod, said piston rod being secured to one clamping member and said cylinder secured to the opposite'clarnping member, the said cylinder and piston expandingto drive said clampingmembers. into engagement with the inside'of said U-shaped member, a stop member carried by -said frame in one of said guides and adapted to be engaged bya stop surface onone of the guides of each-clamping member for limiting the movement of said clamping members when withdrawn by said cylinder and piston, one of said clamping members engaging said stop member first, and thereafter assuring the withdrawal of the other of said clamping members by said hydraulic cylinder and piston, and'means carried by said frame for bending; the end portions of said U-shaped member inward while clamped in said frame,.said.latter means comprising, an anvil carried by each side of-said frame. on; that: side toward the ends of said U-shaped member, eachv anvil having a bending corner formed by two plane surfaces, one of which engages said vU-shaped member, and a pivotally mounted bending bar for each anvil pivoted on an axiscoinciding withsaid corner in each case, said bendingk bar. being-located outside of said U-shaped member for bending the foot flanges by pivotal movement inward towandeach other.

7. A foot flangebending mechanism for simultaneously' forming: two inwardly extending foot. flanges upon a substantially U-shaped refrigerator housing membercomprising, a support, a substantially rectangular frame carriedby saidsupportand adapted to receive the parallel ends of said U-shaped member upon which the foot flanges are to be formed, the said frame having a pair of horizontal upper and lowerframe members joined by a pair of vertical side frame members, the said side frame members engaging the outside of said U-shaped member, guides; carried on,.the, inside of said upper and lower frame. members forslidably mounting a pair of clamping members a pair ofvclamping members slidably mounted in said guides, each. clamping member having an elongated, straight clamping surface for engaging inside said U-shaped-member and having guide flanges extending into said guides in said frame and slidably mounted therein, an hydraulic cylinder and piston provided with a piston rod, said piston rod being secured to one clamping member and-said cylinder secured to the opposite clamping member, the said cylinder and piston expandingto drive said clamping members :into engagement with the inside ofsaid U-shapedmember, .a stop member carried by said frame ,inzone of isaidig uides andadapted to be engaged by a stop. surface on one of the guides of each clamping memberfor limiting the: movement.ofsaid clamping members when withdrawn by said cylinder and piston, one of said clamping members engaging said stop member first, and thereafterassuring the withdrawal of the other of' said clamping" members by said hydraulic cylinder and piston, and means carriedby said frame for bending the end p'ortions-of saidJJ-shaped member inward while clamped in said frame, saidlatter means comprising, an anvil carried by each sideof said frame on that side toward the ends of saidjU shaped' member, each anvil having a bending corner' forrned bytwo,plane surfaces, one of which engages said 'U-shaped member, and a pivotally mounted bendingbar for each anvil pivoted on an axis coinciding withi' said corner in each case, said bending bar being located outside of said U-shaped member for bending the foot flanges by pivotal movement inward. toward each othergeach bending bar having acrank pivotally connected to one end; of an hydraulic cylinder .and piston, the'otherend of said hydraulic cylinder and piston in each case-being pivotally mounted on said'sup'port, the axis of said hydraulic cylinder andpiston extending in a direction f6l81iV to- -saidnxis of rotation of said bending bar to move inward when said hydraulic cylinder and piston are energized by hydraulic :fluid.

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